Paintings

17th century - Flanders and Holland

Unlike many European collections rich in small cabinet paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, the museum is the proud owner of a more remarkable series of Flemish paintings from the 17th century around Rubens.

The Great Antwerp Master is represented by an exceptional work, Christ on the Cross between the two Thieves. This monumental panel shows all the qualities of his oil sketches. It would seem that Rubens hoarded the panel throughout his life, although he had a great many commissions. In Job Mocked by his Wife, Rubens' pupil Crayer painted an interpretation of a Rubens composition that has been lost. Among the master's pupils, the works of Van Dyck and Willeboirts-Boschaert are noteworthy. The caravagesque vein of northern painters is represented by the Flemish painters Jan Janssens and Wautier and by the Dutch painter working in Italy, Stom.

The Liège School, equally influenced by the Flemish and by the French, is present with the spectactular Conversion of St. Paul by Bertholet Flémal, painted for the high altar of Liège Cathedral.The various genres of the Dutch Golden Age are well represented in the collection: landscape with Van der Croos and Van Goyen, still life with Van Aelst, the very particular genre of the forest floor, with Marseus van Schrieck, animal painting with Verbeeck, historical painting with De Poorter.